# What are the differences between the COMMUNICATION and LIVE_BROADCASTING profiles? (/en/api-reference/faq/integration/profile_difference)

> For AI agents: see the complete documentation index at [llms.txt](/llms.txt).

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    This article applies to the Agora Video SDK Native SDK only.
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To apply optimization algorithms for different real-time engagement scenarios, Agora provides a `setChannelProfile` method for the Video SDK channel. You can use this method to set the channel profile as either `CHANNEL_PROFILE_COMMUNICATION` or `CHANNEL_PROFILE_LIVE_BROADCASTING`.

These two channel profiles differ in the following aspects:

* User role setting.
* The default audio route.
* The default video encoding bitrate.

## User role [#user-role]

An Video SDK channel differentiates users by roles. Once a user joins a channel, the user can be either of the following:

* A host, who can both publish and subscribe to streams.
* An audience member, who can subscribe to streams only.

The default user role in different channel profiles are different:

* `CHANNEL_PROFILE_COMMUNICATION`: Host. You cannot change the user role.
* `CHANNEL_PROFILE_LIVE_BROADCASTING`: Audience. You can call `setClientRole` to change the user role.

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    In scenarios involving co-host token authentication, if a user joins a channel with the token of a subscriber, calling `setClientRole` alone does not take effect. For details, see [How can I use co-host token authentication](/en/api-reference/faq/integration/token_cohost).
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## Audio route [#audio-route]

The default audio route refers to the route that audio data takes within a device, such as the speakerphone or earpiece of a mobile phone.

On Android and iOS, Agora uses different default audio routes depending on the channel profile:

* `CHANNEL_PROFILE_COMMUNICATION`
  * In a voice call, the default audio route is the earpiece.
  * In a video call, the default audio route is the speakerphone.
* `CHANNEL_PROFILE_LIVE_BROADCASTING`: The default audio route is the speakerphone.

## Video encoding bitrate [#video-encoding-bitrate]

The `bitrate` member in the `setVideoEncoderConfiguration` method sets the video encoding bitrate. Given the same resolution and frame rate, when you set `bitrate` as the default value, `STANDARD_BITRATE(0)`, the value of the encoding bitrate in the `LIVE_BROADCASTING` profile doubles that in the `COMMUNICATION` profile.

In the following table, the base bitrate applies to the `COMMUNICATION` profile, while the live bitrate applies to `LIVE_BROADCASTING`.

| Resolution (px) | Frame rate (fps) | Base bitrate (Kbps) | Live bitrate (Kbps) |
| --------------- | ---------------- | ------------------- | ------------------- |
| 160 × 120       | 15               | 65                  | 130                 |
| 320 × 180       | 15               | 140                 | 280                 |
| 640 × 360       | 30               | 600                 | 1,200               |
| 848 × 480       | 30               | 930                 | 1,860               |

The values of bitrate in the table above are for reference only. For the detailed video profile table, see [API Reference](https://api-ref.agora.io/en/video-sdk/android/4.x/API/rtc_api_overview.html).

## Recommended settings [#recommended-settings]

Based on the differences above, Agora recommends setting the channel profile according to your scenario:

* In scenarios such as one-to-one call or group call, set the channel profile as `CHANNEL_PROFILE_COMMUNICATION`.
* In scenarios such as chatrooms, small classes, lecture halls, or interactive video streaming, set the channel profile as `CHANNEL_PROFILE_LIVE_BROADCASTING`.